Description
Tibetan painted shrine cabinet featuring dramatic fierce protector deities on its double doors and an exceptional tantric Buddhist painting preserved inside. The exterior displays a pair of wrathful guardian figures—likely manifestations of Mahākāla or other dharma protectors—painted in bold mineral pigments on a deep red ground. Their bulging eyes, flaming hair, and expressive faces are traditional Tibetan motifs used to repel negativity and guard sacred objects stored inside.
Above the protectors are rows of flaming skulls, representing the transcendence of ego, the impermanence of existence, and the burning away of obstacles on the spiritual path. Scrolling smoke and cloud forms further enhance the dynamic movement and protective energy of the composition. The cabinet’s carved and painted crown molding and frame retain layers of original polychrome with beautiful, age-earned patina.
Age: Early 1800’s
Dimensions: 23″ wide x 29″ high x 17 1/2″ deep